What should be a Christian’s conduct in relation to the state or government authorities? ROMANS 13 provides some very clear instructions with huge implications that may surprise some people. ◊

Since the beginning of organized civilization, people have had to deal with their ruling authorities. And it’s natural to have an opinion on it.

Whether it was a tribal chief, a conquering warrior, a village elder, religious leader, king, queen, designated judge, or selected group of statesmen, most rural and urban dwellers, inwardly or overtly, had a stance or response, positive or negative, to that ruling authority.

They may like, love, loathe or fear it/him/her/them. Maybe one can be apathetic to a ruling authority that may be seen as neutral or harmless to the daily life of their subjects. Perhaps. As long as the subject pays their taxes and submits, or at least acquiesces, to the laws, decrees, mandates, stipulations, or requirements of the ruling authority. To do otherwise could be harmful to one’s health and well-being.

Does the Bible say anything about what our response should be to our governing authorities.

Yes. In very clear terms.

There are instructions laid out in ROMANS Chapter 13 that actually may surprise some Christians who feel inclined to steer clear of getting involved with what they may simply see as politics or worldly affairs outside of their realm.

Be Not of This World?
No, actually, submit to governing authorities. The Bible lays out clear guidance for how Christians should conduct themselves in relation to the state or civil/governing authorities:

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. (Romans 13:1)

The very first verse above in ROMANS 13 makes a very provocative statement – that any governing state authority in place is actually established by God. This is an outlandish statement to those who do not acknowledge the existence of God, let alone a belief in God’s involvement in the affairs of man. But nevertheless, the Apostle Paul is making a clear statement, in context, to Jews and Gentiles as Christians in Rome, and by extension through this letter, to all Christians everywhere.

Essentially, the early Christians were wondering if they should submit to Roman civil political leadership, the ruling power of the day. I suspect that most people in that day, Jew or Gentile, knew better than to go against the oppressive boot of the Roman ruling authority. The bigger question in the minds of a 1st century or 21st century Christian who are trying to operate under the authority of Jesus is the following:

“To whom should I submit – Jesus or the government?”

Paul’s answer, of course, throughout the BOOK of ROMANS, is to submit to the Lordship of Christ. But he is now also saying to submit to government authority as well and be a good citizen.

As we should know, Christians are now part of a new world, a spiritual Kingdom, that’s separate from this broken world. But we’re still actually living in this broken world.

God is in Control of Leaders?
Yes, God is in control of leaders. He’s actually put leaders of nations in place. We see this throughout the Old Testament as it stands up to human history. We certainly can track God’s hand and Word relative to the ancient global nations and kings like the Egyptians (Pharaoh), the Assyrians, Babylonians (Nebuchadnezzar), Medes/Persians (Cyrus), the Greeks (Alexander the Great), and Rome.

And one shouldn’t mess with what God has put in place. Do obey your leaders, to avoid trouble, and because it’s the right thing to do:

Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong.

Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason.

They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. (Romans 13:2-5)

And pay your due taxes.

The Call to Love
Beyond calling us to exhibit good behavior as citizen who obey their government, he also reminds us to love one another. Citing Old Testament Jewish law, Paul does what Jesus does in reducing selected commandments against adultery, murder, stealing, and coveting to the one command of Jesus to “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

And By the Way, the Day is Near!
Paul finishes with a note about time. Be aware that the hour is late, time to wake up, that the daylight is almost here.

And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.

So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. (Romans 13:13:11-14)

What day is he talking about? I don’t believe it was about the end of the world as we know it, so to contextualize it to our current day is a miss. It was a call out warning to be aware that the end of their old Jewish world was soon coming.

This warning came 13 years before their world did end when the Roman armies burned down the Jewish temple and devastated the entire city of Jerusalem and killed over 1 million people in AD 70. The Jewish sacrificial system of temple, altar, priests and animal sacrifices was done.

But a new light and way to salvation (Jesus) had come into the world, replacing a corrupted and evil generation of Judaism that rejected and murdered their Messiah in conjunction with the pagan nation of Rome.

So, in summary, know the Lord, be a good citizen, love your fellow man, and know that God is in control and will use nations to conduct His long term will.

But what if the government is evil or corrupt? We’ll deal with that good question in the next post.

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Tags: government, Romans 13, the state